EC certifies Odike’s party

The United Progressive Party (UPP), a new political party founded by Akwasi Addai, popularly called Odike, has been issued with a provisional certificate of registration by the Electoral Commission (EC).

The party was issued with the certificate after partially satisfying the necessary requirements of the EC regarding party registration.

Even though the UPP has been issued with the provisional certificate, it is not expected to begin campaigning until it is issued with the final certificate.

Odike, who was United Front Party’s (UFP’s) presidential candidate for the 2012 polls, formed a new party after several months of open confrontation between himself and Nana Agyenim Boateng aka Gyataba over who should control the UFP.

His newly formed party has a clock as its symbol and also has ‘UPP, yemere nie,’ to wit: ‘UPP, this is our time,’ as its slogan.The party colours are black, blue, red and white.

Speaking at the presentation of the certificate, Mr Amadu Sule, deputy Chairman of EC in-charge of Operations, urged the leaders of the UPP to conduct themselves well as they had been issued with the provisional certificate.

“You are not expected to begin canvassing for votes until you are issued with the final certificate. An independent inquiry is being carried out to ascertain the authenticity of the documents you submitted for registration.

“When we are through with our inquiry and satisfied, you will be issued with the final certificate of registration,” he said.

He urged Odike to ensure that the party is national in character but not regionally active.

Mr Sule entreated all the 23 registered political parties in Ghana to operate in accordance with the law, stating, “It is proper that whatever we do is in tandem with the law.”

Odike commended the EC for issuing the party with the provisional certificate, promising to abide by the tenets of the law in its operations and activities.

He told DAILY GUIDE that he formed the party to help entrench the nation’s democracy and also seek the votes of Ghanaians to rule the nation, stating that “Ghana now needs a businessman to change her fortunes, not a doctor or lawyer.”